大学英语四级阅读的200篇: Unit 39 passage 1_大学英语阅读

大学英语四级阅读的200篇: Unit 39 passage 1

　　According to a 1982 survey, one-third of Americans regard alcohol as the single greatest threat to family life. Alcohol is a significant factor in child-abuse cases, separations, divorces, and suicides. Not often mentioned in connection with alcohol abuse is the guilt, isolation and fear in which the many problem drinkers live.

　　But for many Americans the most worrisome aspect of alcohol abuse is drunk driving. Drivers with blood-alcohol concentrations of 10 percent are up to 15 times more likely to have a fatal accident than non-drinking drivers and it takes only five or six drinks in two hours for a 155-pound person to reach this level, HHS says. Even three or four drinks will increase the risk of fatal accidents up to three times.

　　Despite todays stiffer laws, 20 percent of respondents to our poll have driven while under the influence and 15 percent report drunk driving by someone in their family. Many misjudge their own capacity and a surprising number of those interviewed-insist they are better drivers after they have had a few.

　　Some couples take precautions by agreeing before a party that only one of them will drink. We have to take the baby-sitter home, explains a young Wisconsin wife. And I wouldnt want my own daughter driven by someone on the condition weve been in at times.

　　Alcoholism is now officially recognized as a disease by the American Medical Association, and treatment is covered by medical insurance in many states. In the Digests Survey, nine percent of families interviewed report that at least one family member has sought professional or medical help to overcome drinking problems. Many in the follow-up interviews credit their employers with persuading them to take treatment. However, only 45 percent of persons whose drinking has caused serious trouble in their lives have sought such assistance. Im not that far gone, one Kentuchian insisted. Yet his drinking has already led to divorce and several arrests.